Hillside Golf Club

As we turn to the inward half, it is quickly apparent why Greg Norman described it as “the best back-9 in Britain.” The holes weave their way through a collection of wild dunes, providing some thrilling golf in return. For most, the 11th tee is the highlight of the round and it is certainly a Kodak Moment. The elevated tee offers a sweeping panorama of the links, with Royal Birkdale and Southport & Ainsdale visible in the distance. But don’t allow the view to distract from the task at hand, for a challenging par-5 - that typically plays into the wind - awaits. The same can be said of the closing trio, which brings the round to a conclusion in stern and dramatic fashion.

Hillside may lack the championship pedigree of its Open and Ryder Cup neighbors, but the course has garnered its fair share of the spotlight. The club served as host of the Amateur Championship on three occasions (most recently as 2023) and is frequently a final qualifying venue for The Open. The great Tony Jacklin also recorded the final win of his career at Hillside, when he defeated Bernhard Langer in what is now known as the BMW PGA Championship.

In this golf rich corner of the globe, it would be quite easy for the intrepid links traveler to skip Hillside in favor of a round elsewhere. Yet doing so overlooks one of the more enjoyable and underrated experiences in Britain. Whether it earns a full day on the itinerary, or merely serves as an emergency round after visiting one of the duo next door, the back-9 alone makes the trip to Hillside entirely worthwhile.